The New Chemical Weapons Convention: Implementation and Prospects

The Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force on 29 April 1997, & the major player, namely the United States, ratified it shortly before that date. This constitutes an important achievement in disarmament law & also a step forward in general international law, as the Convention, in order to solve a serious security problem, establishes an unprecedented regime for controlling relevant state & private behaviour, administered by a newly-created international organization. The system being both new & complex, there is a considerable need for interpretation & explanation. In order to make the Chemical Weapons Convention really work, additional measures of implementation are needed. These two problems are addressed by the various contributions presented in this book, which is the result of a common research project of three teams directed by the three editors. It reviews the history of the negotiations & then presents a thorough analysis of the major theatres of the Convention: the organization (OPCW), the verification regime, dispute settlement & reactions to non-compliance. More specific issues include confidentiality, application during armed conflicts, trade issues & national implementation. The information contained in the volume, including the report on the work of the Preparatory Commission, is up-to-date at the time of entry into force.